INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Semen Platycladi Semen Biotae Semen Thujae |
| Common English: | Arborvitae Seed Oriental Arborvitae Seed Chinese Arborvitae Seed Biota Seed Platycladus Seed |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet (Acrid) (Bitter) |
Neutral |
Heart Kidney Large Intestine (Spleen) (Liver) |
3-18g |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Nourishes the Heart and calms the Spirit |
Heart Blood and Yin Deficiency with palpitations and anxiety Night terrors in children (can be used alone) |
Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels |
Constipation in the elderly, debilitated or postpartum women due to Blood and Yin Deficiency |
Astringes Yin Deficiency sweat |
Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
|
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Rx. Polygalae |
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae |
Rx. Ophiopogonis |
Insomnia and palpitations due to Heart Blood Deficiency. |
Insomnia and palpitations due to Heart Blood Deficiency. |
Irritability, poor sleep, palpitations and nocturnal emissions from Lack of Communication between the Heart and Kidneys. |
Sm. Cannabis |
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Heart Blood Deficiency leading to loss of nourishment to the Heart with severe palpitations, irritability, vertigo, forgetfulness and insomnia. |
Constipation in the elderly or postpartum women due to Blood Deficiency. |
Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency. |
Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
|
Night sweats due to Yin Deficiency. |
Strongly quiets the Spirit, calms the emotions, enriches Yin and Blood, stops night sweats and treats palpitations, irritability and insomnia due to Yin and Blood Deficiency failing to nourish the Heart and Liver. Effective for patients with concurrent constipation. |
Ground into a powder and made into pills with honey for hair growth |
Rx. Ginseng |
Sm. Persicae |
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Insomnia, palpitations dizziness and forgetfulness. |
Constipation or dry stools. |
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- Some sources say that this herb nourishes the Kidneys.
- Some sources say that this herb purges Heart Fire.
- Some sources say that this herb resolves Phlegm and disperses tumors.
- This herb is usually used when there is a Deficiency in the Heart producing insomnia, restlessness and apprehension.
- This herb has been used as an aid to hair growth, particularly in cases associated with Blood Deficiency and exhaustion of Jing.
- Bai Zi Ren, Rx. Polygalae Yuan Zhi, and Sm. Zizyphi Spinosae Suan Zao Ren all enter the Heart channel, calm the Spirit, and treat fright, palpitations and insomnia. Suan Zao Ren and Bai Zi Ren are sweet, neutral and nourish the Heart Yin and Liver Blood and are most appropriate for irritability and insomnia from Deficiency. Bai Zi Ren primarily treats the Heart and moistens and lubricates the Intestines to treat dry constipation while Suan Zao Ren primarily treats the Liver. primarily treats the Liver. It restrains and inhibits, astringing sweat and generating Fluids to treat thirst due to injured Fluids and profuse sweating from Deficiency. Yuan Zhi is acrid-dispersing , bitter-draining and warm to unblock, assisting Heart Yang and augmenting Heart Qi to reestablish harmonious communication between the Heart and Kidneys, calm the Spirit and strengthen resolve. It is more appropriate for palpitations and insomnia due to loss of communication between the Heart and the Kidneys with confusion, loss of concentration and forgetfulness. It disperses Stagnation, , expels Phlegm, reduces swellings, and disperses sores and can be used for cough due to Cold-Phlegm and for Cold Obstructing the Qi allowing Phlegm and Dampness to enter the collaterals and cause toxic swollen sores.
- Dry-fried Biota Seeds Chao Bai Zi Ren is less moistening and does not cause nausea.
- De-fatted Biota Seeds Bai Zi Ren Shuang do not cause loose stools or nausea and are most often used to treat insomnia or disturbance of the Heart and Spirit in patients with Spleen Deficiency.